Messages

That would be a pleasant surprise, especially if/when a coaching change occurs.  She can definitely play at a higher level, similar to Shay Frederick

I debated the same thing, but Powell and Scott's Master degrees do make them alumni. 

How cool is it that Valpo can claim Bryce Drew, Scott Drew, Roger Powell, and Jake Diebler as alumni that are HC at the D-1 level?

ISUb 88
Valpo 60

After the men's choke job today, our women decide to say, 'hold our beers,' as they led by 5 with 5:00 left, and summarily let ISUr go on a 20-0 run to take a commanding lead.  This was after Valpo led for all but around 2 minutes of today's game, until this point in the 4th...

Of note, Evans decided to take a technical when we were down by 2 during this run by ISUr, probably thinking that it would drive her team, but her team continued to let the Redbirds run with another 10+ points before we scored again.

I am on the opposite side of this one, in saying that there are NO excuses for that last 4 minutes of play.  Up by 8, and we seemingly forgot how to simply dribble and pass a ball, or be aware of the shot clock.  You play fantastic for 35 minutes, and then like absolute sh!t for 4-5 minutes.  Darius thinks that he is going to take two inside shots in crunch time over a guy that is 8 inches taller?  I was surprised in how he looked at the end, in particular.  He also almost gave away the inbounds pass to Misery State, but it took a lucky bounce off their player to land in our hands. 

Powell is no longer speaking about this season.  He is sending a message to all of his players both inside the locker room and publicly, that they are playing for their scholarships at Valpo.  Deion Sanders approach, and I do believe that it makes sense, given the ridiculousness of transfers and NIL nowadays.  If you would have asked me 5 years ago about a coach sending this type of message, I would have a different response.  Now that there is no loyalty to the school by both players and coaches that can leave for more lucrative offers elsewhere, all players should expect to be playing on year-to-year scholarships.

Valpo 66
Misery State 86

Wow, very cool!  He is setup well moving forward, and will have his choice of mid-major coaching opportunities. 

While I get the Alec Peters comparisons, we need to put it in perspective that Cooper is really the only other option to Stafford, whereas Peters was on a team that could share the ball a bit more, so he didn't get as many touches.  Peters could go off at any time, even in his FR year, but we also had Dority, Jubril, Lexus, Bobby C, and Jordan Coleman (when he wanted to play to his ability).  Much different depth discussion, and touches that could be distributed a bit more.  If Peters was on the current team as a FR, he would probably average 15-20 ppg.

Whomever said something to Coach Powell or the players at the end of the game, as Roger mentioned, is an idiot.  Everyone that pays attention to the program and what Powell inherited with a limited time window, knew that this was going to be a very tough season.

Fair enough.  I would assume that if she graduates, she would take a GT elsewhere.  She is too good to experience another year of what we are seeing.

This is Earnest's final year, I believe.  The extra COVID year was for 2019-2020, I believe, and she didn't start until 2020-2021. 

UNI 82
Valpo 58

I think that it was already a foregone conclusion after this season, but today's loss against Evansville has to cement a new coach moving forward.  You can't lose to Evansville and their program over the last few seasons.  They are just so bad, it should not happen.  Living and dying by the 3 has not worked for Valpo over the last few seasons.

I put it in the VU Record Watch category, but it is worth mentioning here, as well.  We just officially clinched our first below .500 record at home since the 1991-1992 season.  That is 32 straight seasons of success at home, even during several off years.  That was probably our last tie to our successful teams of the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. 

I was hoping that it would be acknowledged in the write-up after our loss today, but do we have some type of ultimatum to only spin positive news about this season in those after game summaries?  After today, we have officially clinched our first under .500 home record since the 1991-1992 season.  That is not some simple thing to be swept under the rug.  That is 32 seasons of at least .500 ball at home, which is quite a feat, and unfortunately, the last vestige of our successful days to go away.  SID, why no mention of this aspect??

You know that it was bad, when the Valpo Athletics write-up has to state that outside of an 18-0 run in the first half, that Valpo outscored ISUb for the remainder of the half. 

Valpo 58
ISUb 79

[outstanding careers in athletics-related fields after leaving Valpo.]

yes but coached at Valpo for 2 years and was a huge gamechanger and influencer in American sports. Valpo needs to recognize this, and it is really sad he does not get considered.

Maybe some type of Distinguished Alumni HoF, if it doesn't already exist?  I get what you are saying on impact, but as a former VU athlete, I see the Athletics HoF as needing to be tied to accomplishments on the field/court or coaching/administering Valpo athletes in an exceptional way.

Guidelines for Hall of Fame nominations seem to allow consideration of off the court post-graduation achievements:

Former athletes, coaches, administrators and support personnel at Valparaiso University are eligible for nomination to the Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as former students who have had outstanding careers in athletics-related fields after leaving Valpo.

Does the Law School represent such a thing?  I wouldn't view Law School folks as being core to an Athletics HoF, but they aren't my guidelines.

yes but coached at Valpo for 2 years and was a huge gamechanger and influencer in American sports. Valpo needs to recognize this, and it is really sad he does not get considered.

Maybe some type of Distinguished Alumni HoF, if it doesn't already exist?  I get what you are saying on impact, but as a former VU athlete, I see the Athletics HoF as needing to be tied to accomplishments on the field/court or coaching/administering Valpo athletes in an exceptional way. 

Valpo 71
Eville 64

62 I hear your frustration however. The 2 QBs we took , Brown was a 2* ranked on 247 and was deciding between PFL schools and Dinuzzo had an offer to NEC Wagner.

Tough to say we struck out there.

Same thing with Amir Simmons and Noah Long. Amir had offers to Dayton/Butler. Long comes from a TX powerhouse and was pursued hard by Trinity.

We also don't know those kids grades of FASFA situations...

Trinity University is always top notch in regards to pretty much all sports at the D3 level.  They've been that way ever since I was in HS.  My brother played baseball there, and it was my fallback if I didn't get any D1 bites. 

It will be an interesting offseason, to say the least.  Who would have thought that we would be worried if Darius was going to leave after his JR year?  It wasn't a thought of mine until the last few games.  I truly hope we can keep him around.  Kudos to him on the improvements to his game.  Good to see Palm and Connor contribute meaningful minutes.  It is so sad to see Connor struggling to see the ball go in.  Just about every shot of his this season has rattled in/around/out, but never drops down.

Remember that we got rid of successful Men's Tennis and Soccer programs under the prior regime, as well.  The MVC does sponsor Soccer, but not Tennis, so I can somewhat understand that decision

We got the expected win against Evansville, so we will see how the next few go!